STATE PANEL LIMITS FORAGE FISH FISHERIES

The California Fish and Game Commission has voted to limit fisheries for forage fish — small fish that make up a basic food source for larger marine animals.

The category includes herring, mackerel and sardines, which are consumed by whales, dolphins, sea lions, seabirds and larger fish such as salmon, tuna and white sea bass. Commercial boats and recreational anglers also harvest the small fish for food and bait.

“The commission recognizes the importance of forage species to the marine ecosystem off California’s coast,” the board policy stated, noting their value to both marine wildlife and commercial and sport fishing.

The commission called for halting new forage fisheries and banning expansion of existing ones until more information is available for “ecosystem-based management” of the small fish, including oceanographic conditions, the effects of forage fishing on predators dependent on the species, and other factors. Fish and Game officials could not be reached for comment, but the marine conservation group Oceana issued a statement supporting the policy.

“Oceana commends the precautionary precedent set today by the commission, which establishes a new direction for fisheries on forage fish by considering how much to leave in the ocean to support the ecological, economic and social values forage fish provide beyond their value in the fishing net,” the organization said.